The Authoritative Source for Cedar Rapids Professional Baseball

Results tagged ‘ Hank Conger (2007) ’

There were eight Cedar Rapids Kernels alumni who made their MLB debut in 2012. Barret Browning, David Carpenter, Patrick Corbin, Miguel Gonzalez, Jean Segura, Tyler Skaggs, Will Smith and Andrew Taylor were among the 35 Kernels alumni who played in a MLB game in 2012. The number is down slightly from the 39 former alumni who played in a MLB game in 2011.

2012 was the fifth time there has been three Cedar Rapids professional baseball alumni players selected to the same All-Star game (2012, 2007, 1991, 1984 and 1966). Mike Napoli (2001-02), Mike trout (2009-10) and Mark Trumbo (2006-07) each made their first all-star teams. We have never had more than three appear in the same season.Here is the link to our full all-star selection list.

Here is the complete list of our alumni appearing in a MLB game with the teams they played for and the year designating the season they were in Cedar Rapids.

Jean Segura (2010) has been selected to represent the Angels in the 14th annual Futures Game. There have been 17 different Cedar Rapids Kernels alumni who have been selected to the Futures Game roster. Three players were selected twice (Ramon Ortiz, Jeff Mathis and Mike Trout).

Jean Segura hit .313 with 24 doubles, 12 triples, 10 HR, 79 RBI and stole 50 bases in 130 games during the 2010 season for the Kernels. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 82-56 record under manager Bill Mosiello. The Kernels lost to Clinton in the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs. Segura was selected to play in the Midwest League All-Star game.

Jean Segura hit .293 with 12 doubles, 4 HR, 26 RBI and stole 18 bases playing for the Tempe Angels and the Inland Empire 66ers in 2011. Segura is hitting .291 with 5 HR, 31 RBI and has stolen 27 bases in 70 games for the Arkansas Travelers in 2012.

There have been many players who have come through Cedar Rapids since the first MLB amateur draft was held in 1965. The first player selected in the draft who would play in Cedar Rapids was Joe DiFabio, a pitcher from Delta State University in Cleveland, MS, who was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 20th overall pick in the initial draft in 1965. DiFabio would pitch for the Cedar Rapids Cardinals in 1966 posting a 11-3 record with a 1.86 E.R.A. in 17 games.

Jerry Pruett was selected with the Cardinals fifth round pick in 1965 and joined DiFabio on the 1966 Cedar Rapids Cardinals squad. Pruett posted a 13-7 mark with a 2.85 E.R.A. in 23 starts. The team finished 81-40 in 1st place during the regular season under manager Ron Plaza. The Cedar Rapids Cardinals fell to Fox Cities 2 games to 1 in the Championship Series.

Terry Milani was selected in the second round out of Lewis University in Romeoville, IL. Milani would play for the Cedar Rapids Cardinals in 1968 and 1969. He hit .244 wityh 5 HR in 1968 and returned in 1969 to hit .230.

The St. Louis Cardinals were more successful with their 1967 draft. They selected Ted Simmons with the 10th overall pick and followed that up selecting Jerry Reuss in the second round. Simmons and Reuss each arrived in Cedar Rapids during the second half of the season and went on to very successful All-Star careers with World Series appearances.

The highest selection to ever play for Cedar Rapids was Kurt Stillwell who was selected with the second overall pick in the 1983 draft by the Cincinnati Reds. Kurt Stillwell was part of the 1984 Cedar Rapids Reds team that finished 4th with a mark of 75-63 under manager Jim Lett. Stillwell hit .251 with 4 HR, 33 RBI and stole 24 bases in 112 games.

A second Cedar Rapids Professional Baseball Alum, Eddie Williams, was selected with the fourth overall pick of that 1983 draft by the New York Mets. He was traded to the Reds on June 15, 1984 along with Matt Bullinger and Jay Tibbs in exchange for Bruce Berenyi. Eddie Williams was a member of the 1985 Cedar Rapids Reds team that finished in 3rd place with a record of 78-61 under manager Jay Ward. Williams hit .261 with 20 HR in 199 games for the Cedar Rapids Reds.

The Giants selected Ted Barnicle eighth overall in 1975 and sent him to Cedar Rapids for the 1976 season. Barnicle pitched a complete game no-hitter against Dubuque on June 29, 1976.

In more recent years, the highest selection from the Angels to play in Cedar Rapids was Joe Torres who pitched for the Kernels during the 2001, 2002 and 2005 seasons. Torres was the 10th overall pick in the 2000 draft. He continues to pitch in the Colorado Rockies organization but has yet to reach the big leagues.

Tyler Skaggs (2010) has been selected to be the starting pitcher for the U.S. team at the 13th annual XM All-Star Futures Game that will start tonight at Arizona’s Chase Field at 5 p.m. CST. Skaggs went 8-4 with a 3.61 ERA while striking out 82 in 82 1/3 innings of work prior to being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of the Dan Haren deal. Skaggs is the 16th different former Kernels player to be selected to play in the Futures Game.

Mike Trout (2009-10) was also selected to play for the U.S. team but was promoted to join the Angels this past week leading up to the All-Star break. Trout would have joined Ramon Ortiz (1997) and Jeff Mathis (2002) as former Kernels who made multiple appearances at the Futures Game.

Mike Trout (2009-10) became the 375th player to play professional baseball in Cedar Rapids and appear in a major league game last night. Trout finished the game 0-3. He flew out to right field in his first at bat. Trout grounded out to the shortstop in his second at bat. He flew out to center in his third and final at bat. Trout made a couple very nice plays in the outfield including a great catch to end the Mariners ninth inning as the Angels won 4-3 behind the four solo HR in the game including a walk off HR hit by Mark Trumbo (2006-07) in the ninth. Erick Aybar (2003) led off the game with a solo shot. Hank Conger (2007) tied the game at 3-3 with a solo HR in the seventh inning.

Howard Kendrick (2004) extended his hitting streak with a first inning single to a career high 17 games. Jordan Walden (2008) picked up his second win of the year with a scoreless ninth inning.

Wisconsin scored seven runs in the 5th inning and held off a late Kernels rally to down the Kernels 9-7 in game two of the series with the Timber Rattlers. The Kernels conclude the series in Wisconsin with the Timber Rattlers tonight at 6:35 p.m. from Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Without further delay, your Harvester Links for 5/12/11:

Erick Aybar (2003) went 2-5 with a RBI, stole a base and scored a run in the Angels 6-4 extra inning loss to the White Sox. Alberto Callaspo (2003) was 2-4 with a RBI, Peter Bourjos (2007) went 1-4 with a triple and scored a run and Howard Kendrick (2004) was 1-4, stole a base and scored a run in the loss. Hank Conger (2007) went 0-4 and Mark Trumbo (2006-07) was 0-3.

Tyler Chatwood (2009) worked 6 1/3 innings while allowing one run to take a no-decision. Rich Thompson (2003) retired the only batter he faced for his first hold of the season. Jordan Walden (2008) took his second blown save allowing two runs in the ninth inning. Kevin Jepsen (2003-04) took the loss allowing a pair of runs in the tenth inning.

Casey Kotchman (2002) went 2-5 with a RBI in the Rays 8-2 win over the Indians.

John Lackey (2000) took the loss allowing nine runs in 6 2/3 innings of work in the Red Sox 9-3 loss to the Blue Jays.

The Burlington Bees trimmed the Kernels 3-2 at Perfect Game Field on Friday night. We play game one of the three game home stand tonight against Beloit at 6:35 p.m. at Perfect Game Field. Iowan B.J. Hermsen is scheduled to take the mound for the Snappers tonite. Without further delay, your Harvester Links for 5/7/11:

Tyler Chatwood (2009) pitched eight strong innings in the Angels 2-1 win over the Indians in eleven innings. Chatwood struck out five while allowing one run in the no-decision. Jordan Walden (2008) worked a scoreless tenth inning in the win.Alberto Callaspo (2003) was 3-4, Erick Aybar (2003) went 3-5 with a stolen base and scored a run, Howard Kendrick (2004) was 2-4, Hank Conger (2007) was 0-4, Alexi Amarista (2008-09) went 0-2 and Peter Bourjos (2007) was 0-2 in the win.Alexi Casilla (2004-05) went 0-4 in the Twins 9-2 win over the Red Sox.

Mike Napoli (2001-02) was 0-2 with a walk and scored a run in the Rangers 4-1 loss to the Yankees.

Casey Kotchman (2002) went 2-2 in the Rays 6-2 win over the Orioles. Sean Rodriguez (2004-05) was 0-5 in the win. Joel Peralta (2001-02) earned his third hold of the season allowing one run in 1 1/3 innings of work.

Sean O’Sullivan (2007) took the loss despite a strong outing as the Royals 3-2 loss to the Athletics. O’Sullivan held the A’s to three runs over eight innings.

Brandon Wood (2004) went 2-3 with a double and a RBI in the Pirates 3-2 loss to the Astros.

This feature is a daily report sharing the links and news of Kernels Alumni. Previously, we updated these throughout the day on Facebook as they happened. I will be posting each morning to try and keep the links as relevant and fresh as I can. If something comes across during the day, it likely will sneak into another post. The Kernels beat Burlington 4-3 in 17 innings last night. We play game two of the the home stand tonight against the Bees at 6:35 p.m. at Perfect Game Field. Without further delay, your Harvester Links for 5/5/11:

Hank Conger (2007) went 3-4 with a double in the Angels 5-3 win over the Red Sox in 13 innings. Howard Kendrick (2004) was 2-6 with a double and scored a run, Erick Aybar (2003) went 1-4 with a double, a pair of walks, a sacrifice and stole a base, Peter Bourjos (2007) was 1-5 with a walk and scored a run, Alberto Callaspo (2003) went 0-6, Jeff Mathis (2002) was 0-1 and Alexi Amarista (2008-09) entered the game as a pinch runner.

Ervin Santana (2002) pitched four shutout innings without allowing a hit while striking out seven before a rain delay ended his outing. Rich Thompson (2003) struck out two in 1 2/3 inning of work following the delay. Jordan Walden (2008) gave up two runs in the ninth for his first blown save. Trevor Bell (2007-08) struck out three in four innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.

Alexi Casilla (2004-05) was 0-4 in the Twins 3-2 win over the White Sox.

Casey Kotchman (2002) went 0-2 with a pair of walks, scored a run and stole a base in the Rays 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays. Sean Rodriguez (2004-05) entered the game as a pinch runner.

Brandon Wood (2004) was 1-4 with a RBI in the Pirates 7-4 win over the Padres.

This feature is a daily report sharing the links and news of Kernels Alumni. Previously, we updated these throughout the day on Facebook as
they happened. I will be posting each morning to try and keep the links as relevant and fresh as I can. If something comes across during the day, it likely will sneak into another post.The Kernels held on to edge Kane County 5-4 in 12 innings yesterday. The Kernels continue the series at Kane County and the six game road trip on Monday at 12:00 p.m. Without further delay, your Harvester Links for 5/2/11:

Hank Conger (2007) hit his third HR of the season in the Angels 6-5 comeback win over the Rays. Mark Trumbo (2006-07) went 2-4 with a double, Alberto Callaspo (2003) was 1-4 with a RBI, Howard Kendrick (2004) went 0-2 with a pair of walks, stole a base and scored a run, Erick Aybar (2003) was 0-4 with a walk and scored a run and Peter Bourjos (2007) went 0-3 with a walk and scored a run in the victory.

Tyler Chatwood (2009) struck out three while allowing five runs in four innings for a no-decision. Rich Thompson (2003) struck out three in a scoreless seventh inning to earn the win. Jordan Walden (2008) worked a scoreless ninth inning for his fifth save of the season.

Casey Kotchman (2002) went 1-4 with a RBI and scored a run in the Ray 6-5 loss to the Angels. Joel Peralta (2001-02) took the loss allowing one run in the eighth inning.

Bobby Jenks (2001) walked three and allowed one run in 1/3 of an inning of work in the Red Sox 3-2 win over the Mariners.

Alexi Casilla (2004-05) went 2-3 with a pair of triples, a RBI, a walk and scored a run in the Twins 10-3 loss to the Royals.

Mike Napoli (2001-02) was 0-4 in the Rangers 7-2 loss to the Athletics.

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